Margaret F. (Marge) Flaherty

Margaret F. (Marge) Flaherty, 93, of Falmouth, Maine and Lynn Haven, Florida passed away April 14, 2012 at the home of her son John Flaherty in Lynn Haven, Florida after a long illness. She was born in Portland June 2, 1918, the daughter of the late Florence A. and Martin P. Joyce. She attended Portland schools and graduated from Portland High School, Class of 1937. She attended Northeast Business College and became a legal secretary and later a paralegal for several Portland law firms. She retired from the firm of Robinson, Kriger and MaCallum in 1987 after 18 years of service. She was an avid cook, gardener and home decorator; many of her friends marked the official beginning of spring by the appearance of geraniums in the window boxes in front of her house on Foreside Road. Marge enjoyed companionship of her circle of friends, playing bridge and other activities. She was a devoted fan of the Boston Red Sox. Later in life she lived with her son and daughter-in-law, first in Louisiana and then in Florida, and became an avid cat lover in the process. She was a parishioner of Holy Martyrs Catholic Church of Falmouth, Maine and St. Dominic's Catholic Church of Panama City, Florida. She was predeceased by her first husband, John Edward (Eddie) Coppinger, who was killed in World War II, and by her husband of 49 years, John C. Flaherty, who passed away in 1995. She is survived by her son John M. Flaherty and daughter-in-law Jessica R. Guidroz of Lynn Haven, Florida; a half-sister Patricia Harriman of Portland; niece Joyce Barter of Naples and nephews Allen and Alfred Barter, both of Boothbay Harbor. Marge's family wishes to thank the many therapists and caregivers who looked after her in the final months of her life both in Maine and in Florida. Relatives and friends are invited to attend an 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial which will be celebrated on Thursday April 19, 2012 at Holy Martyrs Catholic Church, 266 Foreside Road in Falmouth. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery in Falmouth. A reception and celebration of her life will follow. Arrangements are by Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State St., Portland. Those desiring to make a contribution in Marge's memory may do so to: Cheverus High School, 267 Ocean Avenue, Portland, Maine 04103 or at www.cheverus.org.Online condolences may be expressed below.